DENIS SMITH has told Wrexham fans they might not have seen the last of Andy Dibble and Brian Carey despite reluctantly releasing both players this week.

A huge question mark hangs over the future of the veteran duo after Dragons manager Smith was unable to offer them a new deal for next season.

With the cash-strapped club being run by administrators, Smith could not find room in his budget to guarantee goalkeeper Dibble, 40, and centre-back Carey, 36, can return to the Racecourse for one final farewell season.

However, the Wrexham boss last night said he would be keen to re-sign the pair should the financial picture at the Race-course improve over the course of the summer.

The vastly-experienced Carey is fighting to recover from a knee injury that has kept him on the sidelines since October and will be invited back for pre-season training with the Dragons.

Smith said: "With Brian, I'll see how his fitness levels go. He hasn't played since October. We actually pay the players until the end of July, so we've got until then.

Brian's a super lad and I'd like to keep him but we'll have to wait and see."

Asked whether Carey could return in a coaching capacity, Smith added: "We don't know. At the moment, everything I do comes down to money and I haven't got any money. I don't know what people don't understand about that.

"I've got to try to make the money I've got go somewhere. But we'll have to wait and see."

Dibble suffered his fair share of injury problems in the last two seasons and the arrival this week of Mike Ingham on a two-year deal appeared to signal the end of the former Manchester City and Luton Town keeper's Race-course career.

But Smith said Dibble's possible return hung on Wrexham's ongoing ownership issue. He admitted: "If we're still in administration and the Football League are going to say we can't borrow goalkeepers next season, then it will be even more important (to re-sign Dibble). But I don't know if that's going to be the case yet."

Both Dibble and Carey become free agents when their contracts expire next month, leaving them free to sign for other clubs. Paying tribute to the experienced pair, Smith added: "They like the club, they've been good for the club and they do everything possible for the club. If they were in any other walk of life except this business, they would still be with the company."

While Alex Smith's name also featured on Wrexham's list of released players submitted to the Football League, boss Smith yesterday confirmed he intends to offer his namesake a new deal.

Steve Roberts and Carlos Edwards were this week offered two-year deals by the Dragons but turned them down in favour of signing for Doncaster Rovers and Luton Town respectively. Offers have been made to Matt Crow-ell, Craig Morgan, Mark Jones, Hector Sam and Juan Ugarte, with the out-of-contract quintet given until June 21 to make a final decision on their futures.